Supreme Court Grants Four Weeks for Centre's Response on Age Checks in Liquor Sales
The Supreme Court has expressed dissatisfaction over the Union government's absence in a critical hearing regarding age verification at liquor outlets.
The Supreme Court has given the Centre four weeks to respond to a plea for mandatory age checks at liquor outlets.
The petition, filed by Community Against Drunken Driving, highlights the lack of a uniform age verification system across states.
Concerns were raised about alcohol being sold in tetra packs resembling fruit juices, misleading consumers.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of India voiced its frustration regarding the Union government's failure to attend a hearing about mandatory age verification at liquor outlets. The case, brought forth by the non-profit organization Community Against Drunken Driving (CADD), aims to establish a standardized age-checking protocol to prevent underage drinking and related accidents. Justice Vikram Nath, alongside Justices R Mahadevan and Aparesh Kumar Singh, noted the absence of legal representation for the government despite a notice being served.
The court's remarks reflected serious concern over the government's lack of engagement in what it deemed an important issue. Justice Nath questioned, "They don't take you seriously?" to which the petitioner's counsel affirmed that the matter was indeed being treated lightly by the authorities. Consequently, the court has allowed four weeks for the Union government to file its response and has requested the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, to participate in the proceedings.
CADD's petition emphasizes the need for a uniform age verification mechanism, as the legal drinking age varies significantly across different states in India, ranging from 18 to 25 years. The counsel for the petitioner argued that the current system's inadequacies enable minors to purchase alcohol, which contributes to incidents of drunk driving. They called for a standardized protocol for age verification at the point of sale to ensure compliance nationwide.
In addition to the age verification issue, the court also addressed another plea from CADD regarding the sale of alcohol in tetra packs that resemble ordinary beverages. Senior Advocate Arvind Datar, representing the Tetra Pack Manufacturers Association, sought to be included in the case, highlighting that alcohol is sold in such packaging across ten states and union territories. The petitioner's counsel expressed concern over the marketing of alcoholic products in deceptive packaging, such as fruit-shaped containers labeled as “chilli mango vodka,” which could mislead consumers.
The Supreme Court had previously requested responses from the Union government and state excise departments concerning the sale of alcohol in inconspicuous packaging. The court had characterized such practices as “very deceptive,” indicating a growing awareness of the need for stricter regulations in alcohol sales. The next hearing is scheduled for six weeks from now, as the court continues to address these pressing issues surrounding alcohol consumption and public safety.
